How To | repurpose a candle jar
One of my favorite sustainable hacks is repurposing & reusing a good jar, and candle jars are often a forgotten one! Candles make for one the best reusable items because most of their lids are vacuum sealed, perfect for goods that could use extra protection from the elements. Don’t let pesky wax be a reason to throw away the jar – with a little patience and elbow grease, you can turn that beautiful candle jar into micro-storage or a nice, new vase. Here’s a step-by-step on how to remove candle wax from the jar and remove the label:
– here’s a video tutorial: repurpose a candle jar –
removing candle wax:
Place candle in the freezer and let it harden for 1+ hours.
Remove from freezer and place on a stable surface to work.
Using a spoon or sturdy utensil, break up the wax inside the jar and dispose in trash (I personally found chipping around the edges first a little easier).
Wash + dry the interior and exterior of the jar well – be sure to get any remaining residue.
There you go! A beautiful new container to use
removing the label:
Soak jar in warm soapy water for ~15 minutes, label-side down (the label should be fully submerged in the water, if possible).
Remove jar from water and peel off as much of the label as possible (sometimes a little help of scissors or a butter knife works well – *please be careful!*)
Wash + dry.
**For glue residue: cover glue with a thin layer of vegetable oil and baking soda and let sit (10-15 mins is good). Scrub the covered area with a mildly abrasive sponge or brush. Wash the exterior well to get off any oil that may cause the jar to be slippery. Dry well.
